IDTechEx Research Announces New Report on Composite Innovations, Opportunities and Market Forecasts

BOSTON, July 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- It is easy to look at an industry like composites and quickly dismiss it as slow-moving and of no real interest to you or your company, but the chances are you would be wrong.

At the top-level, there are several assumptions that remain correct: the total growth rate is not dramatic, volume production of synthetic fibres used in composite parts is dominated by glass fibre (IDTechEx calculate this to be 95%), and that nobody sees carbon-fibre as a futuristic material anymore. But, looking beneath this basic top level there is a wealth of innovation, supply chain turbulence, and specific growth areas. These are all analysed in a brand-new report from IDTechEx Research, Composites 2017-2027: Innovations, Opportunities, Market Forecasts.

The usual headline-grabbing property is the improved strength-to-weight ratio of these lightweight composite parts, and this will continue their ever-increasing relevance for the automotive and aerospace industry, as lower emissions (ICE) and improved mileage (electric) are required. However, important additional properties also play a crucial role in their successful uptake, be it their superior stiffness, corrosion resistance, or temperature stability.

IDTechEx forecast that the market for all synthetic fibres used in composite parts will exceed $9bn by 2027. The report details the current and status of each individual continuous and short/chopped fibre as well as the main players, challenges faced and trends in applications. This report also looks further into the future of pre-commercial composite materials, a prime example being boron fibres synthesised by advanced manufacturing procedures.

Composites 2017-2027: Innovations, Opportunities, Market Forecasts also looks at the role of composite parts beyond purely "dumb" materials into what will be their next frontier. Multifunctional composites are where the structural part can also provide additional functionality which typically acts as a weight and space-saving mechanism. This includes: energy storage, energy harvesting, embedded sensors and structural health monitoring, adaptive responses, and thermal/electrical conductivity.

This report provides the most comprehensive global view of the market with detailed sections, 10-year forecasts, and application trends segmented for each synthetic and natural fibre in a polymer, metal, or ceramic matrix.